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Commercialization

Is Tom Cruise Working With SpaceX And NASA To Shoot A Space Movie In Space?

By Keith Cowing
NASA Watch
May 5, 2020
Filed under ,
Is Tom Cruise Working With SpaceX And NASA To Shoot A Space Movie In Space?

Out Of This World! Tom Cruise Plots Movie To Shoot In Space With Elon Musk’s SpaceX, Deadline
“I’m hearing that Tom Cruise and Elon Musk’s Space X are working on a project with NASA that would be the first narrative feature film – an action adventure – to be shot in outer space. It’s not a Mission: Impossible film and no studio is in the mix at this stage but look for more news as I get it. But this is real, albeit in the early stages of liftoff.”
Keith’s 4 May note: I have asked NASA PAO if this is true.
Keith’s update: Yup.

NASA Watch founder, Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA, Away Teams, Journalist, Space & Astrobiology, Lapsed climber.

36 responses to “Is Tom Cruise Working With SpaceX And NASA To Shoot A Space Movie In Space?”

  1. David Fowler says:
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    As long as they don’t dock with the ISS, they wouldn’t need NASA’s permission to fly them on a SpaceX Private Astronaut Mission (PAM). opportunities in Feb and Jul 2021.

  2. ThomasLMatula says:
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    The Starship interior should be large enough to make a good movie studio. It’s looks like another Arthur C. Clarke novel (Islands in the Sky) is finally coming true. If they do use a Starship hopefully they will call it Cygnus in honor of the ship in the story.

    • Matthew Black says:
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      Islands in the Sky was one of the earliest SF novels I ever read! Good one.

      • space1999 says:
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        Yeah, it was one of the first Arthur C Clarke books I read… maybe the first. I still have it… it was in pretty good shape till my son ripped the cover off.

    • Bob Mahoney says:
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      That novel definitely got imprinted on my brain, along with quite a few others by him. ACC was my favorite author through my formative years and had more than a little to do with my chosen path. I loved finding his stuff in used bookstores… I can explore his writing a bit more critically now, but nonetheless he wrote some wonderful stuff.

      I used his short story “Who’s There?” (exactly in the same vein as IitS) in my Writing Skills class to explore a number of the mechanics of effective storytelling. It’s a neat, fun little short story that crosses at least two genres.

      Some have suggested that he was better at short stories than novels, but…RNDZ with Rama remains one of my all-time favorite books. I was so delighted when OV-105 got named Endeavour.

  3. Matthew Black says:
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    If they want it done soonish; they’ll have to book one of those Crew Dragon flights.

  4. Jack says:
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    For the same reason stunt doubles risk their lives doing stunts. Besides the CGI they use these days look like crap.

    • Bob Mahoney says:
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      It also harms the storytelling. When you can do anything, essential elements that make stories effective as stories become lost.

  5. Jeff2Space says:
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    It’s quite unfortunate, but people are injured and occasionally die when making movies. I really don’t see this as a big problem to overcome. If Tom Cruise wants to take the risk (doesn’t he do a lot of his own stunts?), then let him sign the FAA required paperwork saying he’s informed of the risk and let him fly.

  6. kcowing says:
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    Why shoot movies about fighter pilots using real jets?

  7. Mr.Anderson says:
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    Kinda seems like a waste considering you can do what Ron Howard did for Apollo 13. I can’t fault Cruise for wanting a free ride into space, but still…

    • kcowing says:
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      I doubt there is a “free ride” involved. He’s rich and his production companies have a lot of money – enough to buy a ticket.

      • Michael Spencer says:
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        And the mega-star insurance.

      • Mr.Anderson says:
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        normally when a movie is being made, it’s my understanding the film company picks up the tab for transporting talent to the set and location. Just to get tom and a director up to the ISS would cost more then most movies. Plus it cost thousands each day each person to be on the ISS. I like the idea, don’t get me wrong, but there would need to be a lot of comping on NASA and SpaceX part to make that worth the cost.

        • Michael Spencer says:
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          That’s what I though. Ever look at movie credits? Hundreds are involved.

          On the other hand, you’d need a camera man and the star, but why couldn’t the thing be directed via Zoom? (which question no doubt exposes my completely naive movie knowledge).

  8. Mike Oliver says:
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    What’s the point of having that much money if you can’t do the things you want to do? It’s his money (production company’s) to spend and it will help promote space travel, both from the cash inflow to SpaceX and the ripple effects of the movie itself. I’m fine with it, if my tax money isn’t used to send him.

  9. Leonard McCoy says:
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    Apollo 11 with ALL real footage was pretty good even if you knew the ending.

    After we see TG2 maybe this will be Maverick goes on a space mission?

  10. Terry Stetler says:
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    Jim Bridenstine confirmed it.

  11. ThomasLMatula says:
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    NASA’s charter requires it to support commercial activity in space. This is a commercial activity in space.

    BTW the movie Top Gun really boosted the image and recruiting for the U.S. Navy. Done right this movie may well boost the support by the public for NASA far more than that achieved by space advocates.

  12. ThomasLMatula says:
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    Massive cost overruns on SLS, Orion, ISS and JWST are fuel to criticize NASA spending. This movie will show NASA has the ability to generate revenue as well.

  13. Jeff2Space says:
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    No, human spaceflight is not different. People die all the time doing all sorts of jobs.

    People die every single year on Mt. Everest. It never stops the climbers. It’s so bad there are “traffic jams” near the summit every year.

  14. Tim Franta says:
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    Having produced a movie with NASA’s assistance, I can tell you it is not a waste of time for NASA or the taxpayers. The story of human spaceflight can be told both in documentary and dramatic formats. You never know the impact or quality of a film whether it is Hidden Figures or Armageddon or the beautiful rediscovered footage of Apollo 11 until it is done. I am very proud of my film and I thank NASA for its assistance telling the story of how NASA and Nichelle Nichols recruited the first minority and women astronauts. You can see the new trailer at http://womaninmotionmovie.com/

  15. Michael Spencer says:
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    It appears that the deal is primarily with SpaceX, if I understand correctly.

    I’m thrilled. Don’t care what it does or doesn’t do for NASA. It’s a glorious day for popular space.

    • Skinny_Lu says:
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      I’m right there with you! I knew it was a matter of time before some rich actor (Tom Hanks, Travolta, who’s a heck of a pilot, Harrison Ford, etc.) would buy a ride to space just because, they can. Honestly, I did not think of Tom Cruise, but it all seems like the perfect fit. Yes, please. Details!

  16. Rabbit says:
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    Makes the term Commercial Space all the more viable.

  17. ThomasLMatula says:
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    No script has been released, so how do you know it won’t promote NASA?

  18. ThomasLMatula says:
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    And that has been the root of the problem, making space a government effort instead of a national one everyone could be part of. Hopefully, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Sir Richard Branson will change that and make space merely another place to work, play and explore. If this movie moves the ball down the field towards that goal the more power to it.

  19. Michael Spencer says:
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    Was thinking the same as Bob as I binged ST Discovery before my access renews for another month. The glitter can be very distracting (the dialog/story is a bit weak, too), not really explaining much.

    But Interstellar’s CGI? In my view finely crafted, supporting/ explaining a scientifically challenging story.

  20. Leonard McCoy says:
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    Those who criticize NASA will always find an excuse to do so. The movie Gravity had some great visuals of the Shuttle and ISS, believe it won an award for cinematography – so why not use the real thing? NASA needs to promote itself or attach itself to positive productions by others. Engage!

  21. fcrary says:
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    I can’t, or at least I can’t see it going far. NASA isn’t paying for this. Tom Cruise and some film company would be. If asked (and they probably would be), NASA could say “We charged them $X million, the services we provided cost $Y million, and we turned the resulting $Z million in profits over to the federal government. A 201? Act of Congress ordered us to promote commercialization of ISS. Aren’t you proud of us for doing what you asked us to do?”

  22. fcrary says:
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    That seems to assume there is one and only one space effort made by the United States, and that it is the government’s. Why do you feel that must be true?

  23. fcrary says:
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    Again, you seem to be assuming NASA is subsidizing this, rather than charging the film company (and perhaps also profiting from the deal.) Also, we don’t know any of the details, so I’m not sure how you can say it would use “unique national human flight assets.” ISS has, for example, supported private and commercial experiments and payloads. If Mr. Cruise is bumping a beer company’s experiment to see how barley malts in zero gravity (there was one), then I’m not seeing the impact on “unique national human flight assets.”

    In terms of Mr. Cruise personally, I have no idea what he’s like or what sort of dark side he might have. But, other than rules about contractors with a criminal record, I don’t think NASA has any policies on the subject. Maybe you think they should, and maybe you’re right. But I’d object to applying it on a case-by-case basis, as opposed to applying it to everyone who wants to fly something to ISS.

    • Michael Spencer says:
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      It is likely that Mr. Driver was referring to the Scientology connection.

      As to Cruise in space? How is this not a huge WIN? Popularizing space and space travel is what many around these parts have been whining about for years.

  24. Jeff2Space says:
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    I disagree. What you’re talking about is making the US Government the gatekeeper for what is “worthy” in crewed spaceflight. This is not something I want to happen. NASA has already opened up ISS for private crew members to visits (they’ve even posted the costs involved).

    Besides, when John Glenn flew on the space shuttle, the decision was made well before it was “justified” by experiments, research, tests, and etc. So even when the US Government is the gatekeeper, “stunts” still make it through. IMHO, there was no reason for John Glenn to fly again, other than politics, publicity, and etc.

    In conclusion, I don’t want the US Government to be a gatekeeper for what is “worthy” in human spaceflight. It’s not necessary and even if it were, I do not trust the US Government to be a proper gatekeeper for what’s “worthy” in human spaceflight. They’ve flown too many literal politicians on the space shuttle for me to take them seriously in this regard. Even inside NASA barfin Senator Jake Garn won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

    Low Point: Senator Jake Garn Flies in Space – April 12, 1985
    http://content.time.com/tim